Review: The Princess and the Frog

Disney’s offering for the holiday family movie season is a story that lauds the importance of hard work and achieving your goals. Can it be coincidence that this “roll up your sleeves and get down to it” message occurs on the heels of a recession, joblessness and all manner of dire straights?

Perhaps we read too much into a mere movie. The Princess and the Frog is, in Disney fashion, richly animated and centres on Tiana, a hard-working waitress in New Orleans who wants nothing but to fulfill her deceased father’s dreams of opening a restaurant pumping with jazz music and filled with the aroma of their specialty, gumbo.

Filled with heartfelt moments and amazing music that will make you dance in your seat, The Princess and the Frog embodies all of our favourite feel-good moments that we can remember from Disney classics like The Jungle Book and The Lion King.

Though, unlike many Disney movies, The Princess and the Frog does not sugarcoat the simple facts of life.

Prince Navine has been cut off financially by his parents and quickly comes to the realization that he does not know how to do anything for himself.

Tiana has to miss out on the fun stuff to earn the money that will lead her to her dreams that seem very far away.

Together, on an unlikely journey as frogs, Prince Navine and Tiana learn that it is not what they want in life that is always most important.

Bring the family! Everyone can take a lesson or two away from this animated feature that will leave you smiling as you exit the theater.